NEWTOWNABBEY BOROUGH COUNCIL Environmental Services Department

LOCAL AIR QUALITY PROGRESS REPORT

AUGUST 2007

Copies of this report are available from:

Environmental Services Borough Council Mossley Mill NEWTOWNABBEY BT36 5QA

Tel: 028 9034 0160

Copies are also available electronically by emailing [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected], or on the Council website, www.newtownabbey.gov.uk.

2 C O N T E N T S

Page No.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 4

1 INTRODUCTION 5

2 NEW MONITORING RESULTS 6 2.1 Nitrogen Dioxide 6

2.2 Sulphur Dioxide and PM10 (Particulate Matter) 16

3 NEW LOCAL DEVELOPMENTS 18 3.1 Part A, B and C Processes 18 3.2 New Retail Developments 18 3.3 New Road Schemes 18 3.4 New Landfill Developments 18 3.5 Residential Developments 19

4 CONCLUSIONS 20 4.1 Nitrogen Dioxide 20

4.2 Sulphur Dioxide and Particulate Matter (PM10) 21

3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors of this report would like to acknowledge the support and assistance of the following people and groups in the completion of this progress report:

Planning and Environmental Policy Group Air Quality Review and Assessment Helpdesk Sean Christiansen, AEAT/Netcen Perry Donaldson, Northern Group Systems

Report prepared and written by:-

Wendy Brolly Vanessa Hodgen

Principal Environmental Health Officers Environmental Health Department Newtownabbey Borough Council

Ordnance Survey of Publishing Permit.

OSNI Licence No. 1281

All geographical data within this report is based upon the 2005 Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland 1:1250 map with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, © Crown Copyright.

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Local authorities in Northern Ireland have air quality management duties which are specified in Part III of The Environment (Northern Ireland) Order 2002. The aim of these duties is to deliver the national objectives as set out in the Air Quality Strategy for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

1.2 In August 2006 Newtownabbey Borough Council published its Updating and Screening Assessment of Local Air Quality.

1.3 Local authorities in Northern Ireland are now required to prepare a Progress Report as specified in Environment (Northern Ireland) Order 2002 Local Air Quality Management Progress Report Guidance LAQM.PRGNI (04). Some of the aims of the Progress Report are to provide a means of communicating air quality information to elected members and the public and providing information to assist in other policy areas such as transport and land planning. The overall aim of the report is to:

ƒ Report progress on implementing local air quality management; and ƒ Report progress in achieving or maintaining concentrations below the air quality objectives.

1.4 In order to achieve this Newtownabbey Borough Council’s progress report will focus on:

ƒ New monitoring results (since those reported in Updating and Screening Assessment, August 2006) ƒ New local developments likely to affect air quality

5 2 NEW MONITORING RESULTS

2.1 Nitrogen Dioxide

2.1.1 Automatic Monitoring Results

From April 2003 the automatic monitoring of NO2 has been undertaken at two roadside locations in the Borough using chemiluminescent analysers. The analysers are sited at:

Location Grid Reference Sandyknowes, Mallusk 305 830 Shore Road 347 805

The mean nitrogen dioxide concentrations obtained from ratified data for 2006 are shown below:

Location Annual Max Daily Maximum Hourly Mean Mean Hourly Mean µgm-3 µgm-3 µgm-3 Sandyknowes 32 84 199 Shore Road 29 81 172

The mean nitrogen dioxide concentrations for the period 1 January, 2006 to 31 December, 2006 at both the Sandyknowes and the Shore Road site are below the Annual Mean Air Quality Objective of 40 µgm-3.

QA/QC

The automatic monitoring stations are covered by a QA/QC contract with Netcen. The Data Quality Report by Netcen for 2006 is shown in Appendix 1.

6 2.1.2 Passive Monitoring

Passive diffusion tubes are used to measure nitrogen dioxide at a number of roadside locations throughout the Borough. The tubes remain at the location for a four week exposure period and are then sent to Lambeth Scientific Services

Limited, London for analysis and to calculate the average NO2 concentration at each location.

Since June 2003 tubes were placed in triplicate at the two automatic monitoring sites.

Results

Diffusion tube results for 2006 are listed below (where tube missing/zero result recorded, average taken for number of tubes present).

Site Location No. of Tubes Averaged Average Ref. 1 Main Street, 12 33 5 McMillan House, Antrim Road 12 20 8 Braden Heights 12 13 11 44 Sandyknowes Avenue 12 28 12 12 Sandyholme Way 12 40 16 Village 12 19 18 Main Street, 12 15 20 A8 Motorway at Sandyknowes 12 29 21 Ballyclare Road/Manse Road 11 14 27 1A Road 12 22 31 Bernice Road/Mallusk Road 12 16 36 NOx Analyser, Sandyknowes 12 29 37 NOx Analyser, Sandyknowes 12 29 38 NOx Analyser, Sandyknowes 12 22 39 NOx Analyser, Shore Road 12 19 40 NOx Analyser, Shore Road 12 18 41 NOx Analyser, Shore Road 12 23 42 Langley Hall, Shore Road 12 22 43 Antrim Road, Elmfield 12 39 44 Abbots Cross 12 15 45 B & Q 12 23 46 Collinbridge Road 12 27

7 The live sites with the highest average nitrogen dioxide concentrations are:

Site Location Result Ref. 1 Main Street, Ballyclare 33 11 44 Sandyknowes Avenue 28 12 7 Sandyholme Way 40 43 Antrim Road, Elmfield 39

The graph below shows the monthly results for each of these 4 sites.

Site Comparisons

60

50 Site 1- Main St Ballyclare 40 Site 11 - 44 Sandyknowes Ave 30 Site 12 - 12 20 Sandyholme Way Site 43 - Antrim Rd, 10 Elmfield 0 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 06 06 0 0 06 0 0 0 0 06 0 ------r-0 t r y- c- a a e Jul Jan Ap Jun Oc M Nov Feb- M Aug Sep- D

Bias Adjustment Factor

Triplicate diffusion tubes have been collocated at both the Newtownabbey

chemiluminescent NOX monitors since June 2003. Bias adjustment factors for both sites for 2006 were calculated (shown in Appendix 2). A bias adjustment factor of 1:34 based on 8 collocation studies ( City Council, Spelthorne Borough Council, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council x 3, City of York Council x 2, East Hertfordshire District Council) was also obtained from Air Quality Consultants Limited.

8 The various bias adjustment factors have been applied to the annual mean nitrogen dioxide concentrations at sites 1, 11, 12 and 43.

Site Location Annual Bias Bias Bias Ref. Average Adjustment Adjustment Adjustment Factor Factor Factor (Sandyknowes) (Shore (Air Quality 1.2 Road) Consultants 1.45 Ltd) 1.34 1 Main St, 33 40 48 44 Ballyclare 11 44 Sandyknowes 28 34 41 38 Avenue 12 7 Sandyholme 40 48 58 54 Way 43 Antrim Rd, 39 47 57 52 Elmfield

The diffusion tube results for these sites for 2004-2006 are shown below (not bias adjusted). The number of tubes averaged at each location is shown in brackets.

Site Location 2004 2005 2006 Ref. 1 Main Street, Ballyclare 27 (11) 26 (12) 33 (12) 11 44 Sandyknowes Avenue 24 (10) 31 (8) 28 (12) 12 7 Sandyholme Way 31 (8) 33 (12) 40 (12) 43 Antrim Road, Elmfield 30 (6) 31 (12) 39 (12)

The diffusion tube results for 2007 to date are shown below:

Site Location January February March Average Ref. 1 Main Street, Ballyclare 34 33 30 32 11 44 Sandyknowes Avenue 23 42 37 34 12 7 Sandyholme Way 36 31 29 32 43 Antrim Road, Elmfield 49 45 28 41

The diffusion tubes at each of the above sites are either on or adjacent to the facades of domestic properties, ie relevant locations.

9 a) 7 Sandyholme Way and 44 Sandyknowes Avenue The properties at 7 Sandyholme Way and 44 Sandyknowes Avenue are adjacent to the southbound on-slip of the M2 motorway (map and photo below). This area is subject to severe rush-hour congestion and works have commenced on widening the southbound portion of the M2 between Sandyknowes and Greencastle from 2 to 3 lanes. For the last 2-3 years attempts have been made to relocate the existing Sandyknowes analyser adjacent to either the on-slip or in the garden of 7 Sandyholme Way, however to date this has been unsuccessful. The diffusion tubes at both locations are on the façade of the properties. 7 Sandyholme Way

10

11 Since January 2007 a diffusion tube has also been located at 13 Sandyholme Park and 6 Sandyknowes Gardens (shown on map above). Since March 2007 a further diffusion tube has been located at 5 Sandyholme Park (shown on map above). The monthly results for these sites for 2007 are shown below:

Site Location Results 2007 Ref. January February March 47 13 Sandyholme Park 40 44 42 49 6 Sandyknowes Gardens 27 20 25 56 5 Sandyholme Park - - 23 b) Antrim Road, Elmfield The property at Antrim Road, Elmfield is adjacent to a busy junction of the main road leading from to Belfast City Centre (map and photo below). The diffusion tube is attached to the lamppost outside the front of the property. The diffusion tube is 3.1 m from the façade of the property.

12

13 c) Main Street, Ballyclare The property at Main Street, Ballyclare is adjacent to the main road leading in and out of Ballyclare. This street is sided on both sides by commercial and domestic properties giving a canyon effect. It is a typical rural town which has seen rapid growth in recent years resulting in traffic congestion (map and photo below).

14

2.2 Sulphur Dioxide and PM10 (Particulate Matter)

From February 2005 the automatic monitoring of SO2 and PM10 has been undertaken in the Ballyclare area using a chemiluminescent analyzer and a TEOM. The station is sited at: Location Grid Reference Ollardale, Ballyclare 283 909

2.2.1 PM10

The mean PM10 (particulate matter) concentrations obtained from ratified data for 2006 are shown below.

Location Max Daily Maximum Annual Mean Mean Hourly Mean µgm-3 µgm-3 µgm-3 Ballyclare 58 233 20 (GRAV EQ) (GRAV EQ) (GRAV EQ)

The Annual Mean for the Ballyclare site in 2006 is 20 µgm-3 (gravimetric concentration). This is below the annual objective of 40 µgm-3 (gravimetric concentration). The 24 hour mean of 50 µgm-3 was exceeded 2 times during 2006. The maximum running 24 hour mean was 61 µgm-3 (gravimetric concentration).

In the first round of Review and Assessment 42 kerbside locations including junctions were assessed using DMRB assessment (1999 version). The model

-3 predicted annual average concentrations of PM10 less than 28 µgm at all the locations modeled. The occupiers of 7 Sandyholme Way are concerned however about particulate matter from road traffic at their property.

16 2.2.2 SO2 The mean sulphur dioxide concentrations obtained from ratified data for 2006 are shown below: Location Annual Max Daily Maximum Hourly Mean Mean Hourly Mean µgm-3 µgm-3 µgm-3 Ballyclare 4 30 93

These are all below the objectives for sulphur dioxide. There were no exceedances in 2006 of the 15 minute, 1 hour or 24 hour means.

QA/QC

The automatic monitoring station is covered by a QA/QC contract with Netcen. The Data Quality Report by Netcen for 2006 is shown in Appendix 1.

Air Quality Management Area (AQMA)

In 2004 Newtownabbey Borough Council declared an AQMA in Ballyclare for a

likely breach of the Particulate Matter (PM10) objectives. The Council’s Updating and Screening Assessment (August 2006) concluded that the

objective for PM10 was unlikely to be exceeded at any location in Newtownabbey and as a result, the AQMA for Ballyclare was revoked by the Council in November 2006.

17

3 NEW LOCAL DEVELOPMENTS

The following are new local developments since completion of the last Progress Report (April 2005) and the Updating and Screening Assessment (August 2006).

3.1 Part A, B and C Processes

A list of Part A, B and C processes within Newtownabbey Borough Council are listed in Appendix 3.

3.2 New Retail Developments

ƒ Lidl, Old Courthouse site, Church Road, Newtownabbey ƒ Marks & Spencer, Glenmount Road, Newtownabbey ƒ Abbey Trading Centre, Longwood Road, Newtownabbey ƒ Lidl, Ballynure Road, Ballyclare ƒ Woodsides (Ballyclare) Ltd, 15 Granges Street, Ballyclare ƒ Monkstown Units, Jordanstown Road

3.3 New Road Schemes

Works have commenced on the M2 widening scheme from Sandyknowes to Greencastle.

3.4 New Landfill Developments

Baird’s Brae Landfill Site Phase 2 commenced in November 2006. Complaints concerning malodour from the site have been received by the Council. These have been referred to Environment and Heritage Service, Department of Environment, the licensing authority for the site.

18

3.5 Residential Developments

In addition, there have been a number of large residential developments within the Borough with the potential to increase traffic flow, including:

ƒ Gateside Development, Victoria Road, Ballyclare ƒ Craigyhill Development, Ballyeaston Road, Ballyclare ƒ Ellisfield, , Ballyclare ƒ Ballynure Road, Ballyclare

Recently there has also been a substantial increase throughout the Borough in the sale of large detached properties as redevelopment sites for townhouses and apartments. This has the potential to substantially increase traffic flows in the Borough.

19 4 CONCLUSIONS

4.1 Nitrogen Dioxide

The 2006 annual average concentrations for the passive nitrogen dioxide monitoring sites at Sandyholme Way (Site 12) and Antrim Road, Elmfield (Site 43) are equal to or just below the Annual Mean Air Quality Objective of 40 µgm-3 without the application of either a local or national bias adjustment factor.

At Main Street, Ballyclare (Site 1) the 2006 annual average concentration is above the annual mean objective when both the local and the national bias adjustment factors are applied.

At 44 Sandyknowes Avenue (Site 11) the 2006 annual average concentration is just below the annual mean objective of 40 µgm-3 when the national bias adjustment factor is applied.

a) Sandyholme Way and Sandyknowes Avenue (sites 12 and 11) The diffusion tubes are located on the exterior façade of the sensitive locations and both properties are adjacent to the on-slip of the M2 motorway (southbound) at Sandyknowes roundabout. For the last 2- 3 years attempts have been made to relocate the Sandyknowes analyser adjacent to Site 12. Discussions are ongoing with the property owner in an attempt to locate an analyser in the garden of his property. Since January 2007 further diffusion tubes have been located in this area at 13 Sandyholme Park and 6 Sandyknowes Gardens and since March 2007 at 5 Sandyholme Park.

Advice has been sought from the Review and Assessment Helpdesk and based on the 2006 results the Council is now proposing to declare an Air Quality Management Area in the Sandyknowes area for nitrogen dioxide from road traffic and carrying out a detailed assessment in this area.

20

b) Antrim Road, Elmfield (site 43) The diffusion tube is located 3.1 m from the façade of the sensitive location and the property is adjacent to a busy four-lane road which leads from Glengormley to Belfast. The Council is now considering relocating the Shore Road automatic analyser within a roadbox at the location.

Advice has been sought from the Review and Assessment Helpdesk and based on the 2006 results the Council is now proposing to declare an Air Quality Management Area in the Antrim Road, Elmfield area for nitrogen dioxide from road traffic and carry out a detailed assessment in this area.

c) Main Street, Ballyclare (site 1) The diffusion tube is located on the exterior façade of the sensitive location and the property is adjacent to a busy main street of a rural town.

Advice has been sought from the Review and Assessment Helpdesk and based on the 2006 results the Council is now proposing to declare an Air Quality Management Area in Main Street, Ballyclare for nitrogen dioxide from road traffic and carrying out a detailed assessment in this area.

4.2 Sulphur Dioxide and Particulate Matter (PM10)

The mean 2006 concentrations for both SO2 and PM10 are below the annual air quality objectives for both these pollutants. Monitoring results have been consistently low since monitoring commenced.

The Council is now proposing to review this monitoring location and give consideration to re-siting the equipment in an appropriate location.

21

Due to the concerns raised by the occupiers of 7 Sandyholme Way regarding particulate matter from road traffic at their property consideration will be given to siting a particulate monitor at their property.

22

APPENDIX 1

DATA QUALITY REPORTS

APPENDIX 2

BIAS ADJUSTMENT FACTORS

Bias Adjustment Factor (2006) for Shore Road Analyser Month Analyser Tube Results Tube Adjusted Results Site Site Site No. Average Analyser No. No. January 35 18 18 19 18 35 February 37 18 24 25 22 37 March 29 11 19 23 18 29 April 26 19 14 22 18 26 May 25 14 24 14 17 25 June 26 19 21 16 19 26 July 22 14 14 17 15 22 August 22 17 14 31 21 22 September 27 20 18 17 18 27 October 28 23 20 25 23 28 November 36 31 5 27 21 36 December 31 26 28 37 30 31 Average 20 29

Bias adjustment factor = 29 = 1.45 20 Shore Road bias adjustment factor = 1.45

Bias Adjustment Factor (2006) for Sandyknowes Analyser Month Analyser Tube Results Tube Adjusted Results Site Site Site Average Analyser No. 36 No. 37 No. 38 January 38 20 33 13 22 38 February 38 34 34 23 30 38 March 33 18 25 18 20 33 April 33 26 28 19 24 33 May 30 22 22 25 23 30 June 31 32 27 35 31 30 July 24 23 22 25 23 24 August 27 32 32 38 34 28 September 31 34 31 21 29 30 October 30 22 23 16 20 30 November 35 38 43 13 31 35 December 31 42 31 21 31 32 Average 26.5 31.75

Bias adjustment factor = 31.75 = 1.25 26.75 Sandyknowes bias adjustment factor = 1.2

APPENDIX 3

IPPC PROCESSES

PART A, B AND C IPPC PROCESSES WITHIN NEWTOWNABBEY BOROUGH COUNCIL

Part A Processes

Site Operator Name Site Address Brett Martin Limited 24 Road, Mallusk NK Coatings Limited 4 Michelin Road, Mallusk Diageo Baileys Global Supply Hightown Industrial Estate, Mallusk Road, Newtownabbey

Part B Processes

Site Operator Name Site Address RMC Quarries (Ulster) Ltd 1 Sealstown Road, Mallusk Ready Use Concrete Boyd’s Quarry, 140 Mallusk Road, Newtownabbey James Boyd & Sons Ltd 140 Mallusk Road, Newtownabbey F P McCann Ltd Boyd’s Quarry, 140 Mallusk Road, Newtownabbey NK Coatings Limited 4 Michelin Road, Mallusk Brett Martin Limited 24 Roughfort Road, Mallusk

Part C Processes

Vapour Recovery

Site Operator Name Site Address Spar 119 Manse Road, Newtownabbey Spar 91 Road, Ballyclare Spar 45 Mallusk Road, Newtownabbey Spar 290 Antrim Road, Newtownabbey Glenabbey Filling Station 492 Antrim Road, Newtownabbey Whitehouse Filling Station Shore Road, Newtownabbey Twinburn Filling Station Monkstown Road, Newtownabbey Cash Stores 47 Mossley Road, Ballyrobert Forecourt Centre Station Road, Doagh J Gordon and Sons 175 Doagh Road, Newtownabbey Hazelbank Service Station 448 Shore Road, Newtownabbey Glen Service Station 88 Ballyclare Road, Newtownabbey Moyola Park Service Station 387 Antrim Road, Newtownabbey O’Neill Road Filling Station O’Neill Road, Newtownabbey Filling Station 45 Doagh Road, Newtownabbey Tesco Filling Station Abbey Retail Park, Newtownabbey Trackside Service Station Shore Road, Newtownabbey N Watt & Sons 4 Ballynure Road, Ballyclare

Site Operator Name Site Address Ballynure Filling Station 3 Road, Ballynure

Cement Processes

Site Operator Name Site Address Mega-Mix (94) Ltd 60 Road, Newtownabbey Abbey-Crete 372 Ballyclare Road, Newtownabbey Frank McIlroy Ltd Cloughfern Avenue, Newtownabbey Roadmix 60 Ballycraigy Road, Newtownabbey RMC Ulster Ltd Ballypalady Road, Doagh RMC Ulster Ltd Sealstown Road, Mallusk St Gobain Dennison Industrial Estate, Ballyclare

Coal Processes

Site Operator Name Site Address Home Fuels Ltd Central Park, Mallusk

Coating Processes

Site Operator Name Site Address F G Wilson (Eng) Ltd Doagh Road, Newtownabbey Montracon Ltd 50 Mallusk Road, Newtownabbey J E Coulter Ltd Commercial Way, Mallusk

Timber Processes

Site Operator Name Site Address McLaughlin & Harvey Trench Road, Mallusk

Mobile Crusher

Site Operator Name Site Address McCormack Demolition Trench Road, Mallusk

Dry Cleaners

Site Operator Name Site Address Apollo Dry Cleaners 34 The Diamond Beverley Dry Cleaners 12A Beverley Road Speedy Cleaners 379 Antrim Road Abbey Dry Cleaners 612 Shore Road